Spiritual Clarity for those Navigating the Fog of Autism

In general, we all find disease frustrating and can easily empathize with those afflicted and affected. However, diseases that effect children stir up a whole different set of emotions ranging from anger to zeal – anger in terms of how could this be happening and zeal to conquer.

One out of every one hundred sixty-six (1 of 166) children in America is diagnosed with autism.  Despite numerous advancements in understanding and treating autism, it remains shrouded in mystery and misunderstood even by the medical community – for the most part. There is much written on this subject; but unlike a generation ago, parents today have resources and support at their fingertips, thanks in part to the internet. What follows is my attempt to contribute to the conversation — and controversy.

Over the years, as I’ve interacted with parents of autistic children, several questions are raised about autism and how it relates to God, healing and hope. These questions bear repeating here and my prayer is that my response to the questions will benefit you. Before I begin, let me mention that it is okay to question God. Jesus said ask, seek and knock. It’s even okay to bang on heaven’s door. God wants to be known by you. The more you press into knowing him, the more the difficulties in the world make sense.

The “Why Me?” Question – Why did God choose me to have an autistic child?

The Scriptures are clear on the fact that God never gives us more than we can handle. He gave you an autistic child because you can handle a tougher assignment than most. In choosing you for a tough assignment, he also promises to supply every grace you’ll need. Ask him every day for the grace you’ll need that day.

The Healing Question – Is healing autism out of God’s league?

Over the years I have noticed there are some infirmities people ask God to heal and other infirmities we only pray for strength to handle. Many churches have prayer chains where people share prayer requests, which is where I most notice a total lack of faith for God to handle the big things like cerebral palsy, deformities and autism, to name a few. God can even raise the dead and he does raise the dead. Nothing is impossible for him. Healing autism is easy for God.

The Demon Question – Could evil spirits be behind these seizures and fits that seem to overtake my child?

Honestly, the answer is maybe. But, please don’t be offended by the suggestion. I’m not suggesting people with autism are demonic or possessed, only that they are possibly harassed and oppressed. Demons love to torture people. More often than not, in any physical ailment, I have found that demons piggy back on a natural problem and make it worse. They will exacerbate even an ill-spoken word to create greater division between people. Certainly they hover over those who are mentally and physically vulnerable.

To heal a deaf and mute boy in Mark 9:14-29, Jesus first cast out a “deaf and mute spirit.” There are spirits of infirmity that seem to specialize and just as there are demons assigned to cause division, there are demons assigned to cause tumors and cancer, as well as anxiety and confusion. The Greek words for deaf and mute are words that also include those who are dull in understanding and those who have learning disabilities and speech disorders. It is very possible, even likely, that Jesus cast demons off children who today would be diagnosed as autistic.

A father named “Tim” who hosts a “Healing for Autism” discussion page on Facebook writes:

“I believe a demon contributed to the torment my son Jacob experienced when he developed autism. On at least one occasion, he displayed super human strength when we were trying to enter the worship service at our local church (where he was very familiar with everyone and typically enjoyed playing with the kids). When he grabbed the doors to the worship area, despite his low muscle tone from DS, it took 3 adults to loosen his grip from the wood. He weighed about 35 lbs at the time. I should have easily been able to remove his tiny fingers. Also, many times in battling autism, when he exhibited controlling tantrums, he would respond to prayer in Jesus Name, and the symptoms would abate.”

Prayer in Jesus’ name is the remedy for relief from the entire gamut of demonic oppression, and of course this includes autism.  The name of Jesus brings healing. Use it.

The God’s Will Question – Is it really God’s Will that my son suffer and be distant from the love we want him to know?

No. God allows suffering but he doesn’t enjoy it, or want it. The Bible says God wants none to perish but all to have eternal life. He grieves that some reject his offer of salvation (through his Son Jesus) as he wants and wills abundant and eternal life for everyone. God wants and wills that everyone experience salvation (Greek: sozo). However, salvation is bigger than just having your sins forgiven and getting a ticket to heaven. Sozo is the Greek word for salvation, healing, and deliverance. God wills all three for you and your autistic child. God is able to use suffering for his purposes, turn bad into good, and restore what has been taken from us. Salvation and healing are things we are to seek and keep seeking until God delivers.

The Connection Question – My son is in a world unto himself; where does that leave me?

The 1988 movie Rainman starring Dustin Hoffman was wonderful not only in that it brought national attention to autism, but in that it demonstrated how gifted the autistic really are, i.e. stunning mental capacity and memory. Frankly, as it relates to connection, it is probably the case that the autistic are more on God’s wave length than the rest of us.  It is true what the Bible says about God being especially close to the broken and humble.

Admittedly, this is just a layman’s observation regarding how the love we show our autistic children seems and feels as if it is not received. However, love is the universal language. I hope you will take heart in me saying no one is beyond love’s reach, even if they lack the capacity to reciprocate.

Those who do deliverance ministry report they discern that rejection as a point of access for the deaf and mute spirits that afflict people with autism. If that is the case, it is all the more reason to fight this with love.

 

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Steve Hickey is the founding pastor of Church at the Gate in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He also teaches leadership in Greece for John Maxwell’s EQUIP Million Leader Mandate. In 2010, Steve was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives and is a national voice for the unborn. He’s written several books, including his latest, Momentum: God’s Ever Increasing Kingdom (www.MomentumHandbook.com). Steve and his wife would like to pray for your specific needs and have a prayer team at the church waiting to hear from you. For more information or to submit a prayer request, visit: www.churchatthegate.com/prayer.php